Back to jobs

Robotics Engineering Technical Lead Manager

Union City, Ca

Technical Lead Manager, Robotics Software

Union City, California (work from office at least 3 days/week)

 

Third Wave Automation (TWA) is a rapidly growing robotics startup applying modern machine learning and autonomy to real-world materials handling. Our technology enables infrastructure-free pallet handling and site-specific forklift navigation that adapts to changing warehouse layouts, workflows, and demand.

We have proven core technology, demonstrated strong market fit, and recently closed our Series C funding. We are now scaling one of our robotics platforms from advanced prototype to production deployment in partnership with a world-leading forklift OEM.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on technical leader who wants to help mature a real-world robotic system at commercial scale. 

 

Role Overview

TWA is looking for a principal-level Technical Lead Manager to lead a focused robotics software team responsible for taking one of our platforms from approximately 90% functional completeness to a hardened, production-ready system. 

This is not a pure people-management role, and it is not a research-only or ML-only leadership role. We are looking for a leader who can operate at the intersection of software architecture, hands-on C++ engineering, code review, systems thinking, and small-team management.

 

Job Scope

Lead a Hands-On Robotics Software Team: Manage and technically lead a small, focused team of 4–5 engineers responsible for maturing a robotic system into production. You will set technical direction, unblock engineers, provide direct coaching, and ensure the team is making sound engineering decisions.

Stay Close to the Code: Actively participate in software design, C++/Python code reviews, architecture discussions, debugging, and technical trade-off decisions. You do not need to be the primary coder on every feature, but you must be credible and effective in the codebase.

Drive C++ Software Quality: Raise the bar for production-grade C++ development, including object-oriented design, code maintainability, interface design, testability, performance, reliability, and long-term supportability.

Mature the System for Production: Lead the final stage of productization: reliability improvements, performance tuning, failure-mode handling, diagnostics, test coverage, documentation, and hardening required for 24/7 operation in industrial environments.

Own System-Level Technical Decisions: Guide technical decisions across robotics software, vehicle interfaces, sensors, controls, autonomy behavior, hardware integration, and operational constraints. You will help the team reason through trade-offs involving safety, reliability, latency, maintainability, and customer impact.

Lead Technical Reviews and Design Discussions: Establish a high-quality engineering rhythm around design reviews, code reviews, interface definitions, and technical documentation. You will help ensure the team is building software that can scale beyond a small number of successful demos.

Partner Cross-Functionally: Work closely with the Technical Program Manager and Head of Engineering to translate technical complexity into clear execution plans, milestones, risks, and delivery commitments.

Interface with a Global OEM Partner: Serve as a key technical interface with our forklift OEM partner. You will help align on vehicle interfaces, sensor integrations, platform capabilities, technical constraints, and product-readiness expectations.

Use AI Tools Pragmatically: Champion the thoughtful use of AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, Gemini, Copilot, or similar platforms to accelerate engineering work without compromising code quality, safety, maintainability, or review discipline.

 

Candidate Profile

This person will feel very comfortable saying, “I can manage the team, but I can also review the C++ design, challenge the architecture, debug system-level issues, and raise the engineering bar.” 

The optimal candidate for this role is likely a hands-on engineering leader who has grown from a strong software engineering foundation into technical leadership and small-team management; currently performing as as Technical Lead Manager, Staff/Principal Engineer with formal team leadership responsibilities, Engineering Manager who remains highly technical, or Robotics Software Lead managing a small group while still driving architecture and code quality.

  • Advanced degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
  • 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, ideally in robotics, industrial vehicles, and/or complex SW/Hw systems.
  • Deep understanding of object-oriented programming, object-oriented design, software architecture, interfaces, and maintainable code structure.
  • Experience technically leading engineers through design reviews, code reviews, debugging, and system-level trade-off decisions.
  • Deep understanding of C++,  with the ability to review, critique, and improve production-grade code.
  • Experience managing or formally leading a small engineering team, ideally 4–5 engineers.
  • Ability to operate as both a technical lead and people manager: setting direction, coaching engineers, holding quality standards, and driving execution.
  • Experience with real-world robotic, autonomous, embedded, vehicle, or industrial systems where reliability, safety, and operational performance matter.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical trade-offs to engineers, product leaders, program managers, executives, and external partners.
  • Practical understanding of software development processes, release readiness, testing, documentation, and production support.
  • Preferred - Experience with robotic systems architecture, vehicle control systems, autonomy software, fleet robotics, industrial automation, or warehouse automation.
  • Preferred - Experience with sensors, perception systems, controls, localization, motion planning, vehicle interfaces, or hardware integration.

 

Benefits and Perks

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.

401(k) matching program.

Flexible working schedule.

Daily lunch provided, with dinner covered on longer workdays.

Fully stocked snacks.

Regular Show & Tell sessions where team members share what they are building and learning.

Collaborative teammates who care deeply about building real-world robotics products.

 

Third Wave Automation is an equal opportunity employer. We value each person’s expertise, background, and experiences. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected status.

The pay range for this position is $168,000–$360,000 per year, plus benefits and equity. Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location.

All qualified applicants authorized to work in the United States are encouraged to apply. We are unable to sponsor new H-1B visas (at any point) subject to fees required by the “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” Presidential Proclamation dated September 21, 2025.

  

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Third Wave Automation? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Third Wave Automation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.